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Pot Operation in Deep Gap Busted, 93 Plants Seized

Courtesy WCSO
Courtesy WCSO

June 17, 2014. On June 10, narcotics detectives from the Watauga County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant on a suspected Marijuana Growing Operation.  The investigation was conducted by detectives after information was received of large amounts of marijuana being cultivated in Deep Gap.

Detectives executed the search warrant on the property of 270 Joe Greer Rd. in Deep Gap, which was a large factory building. Half of the factory was used as a business; the other half was used to cultivate Marijuana.

Shaki
Shaki

Detectives seized a total of 93 Marijuana plants from the indoor grow operation.  32 Marijuana plants were fully mature and ready for harvest.  61 Marijuana plants varied at different stages of growth ranging from 3 inches to 4 feet.  The Marijuana was cultivated through a sophisticated system using grow lamps, ballasts to regulate the power, timers to control the amount of heat the plants were using, fans to circulate the air, and air filters to mask the smell of the plants.

The seized Marijuana plants had a total weight of 31 lbs.  A fully mature Marijuana plant can produce anywhere from ½ lb to 1 lb of actual Marijuana bud.  With a total of 93 plants, this grow could have potentially yielded approximately 46 – 93 lbs of Marijuana. A typical pound of Marijuana is sold for $4,500.  This would mean that the seized plants could have potentially made $207,000 – $418,500.

Abrham Shaki, 58, of 2316 Cranberry Springs Rd. in Fleetwood was charged with Trafficking in Marijuana by Manufacture, Trafficking in Marijuana by Possession, Manufacture Marijuana, PWIMSD Marijuana, Maintaining a Dwelling CS, and Possession Drug Paraphernalia.  Shaki was taken to the Watauga County Detention Facility in lieu of a $10,000 bond.  He is scheduled to appear in District Court on July 30, 2014.